Looking to pass your CompTIA certification exam? In this guide, IT Exams provides an in-depth look at CompTIA performance based questions (PBQs), which are an important part of many CompTIA exams. Learn what PBQs are, how they work, and how to prepare for them. With practical tips and strategies for success, you’ll be ready to tackle any CompTIA Performance-based Question that comes your way.
What Are Performance-Based Questions?
Performance-based interview questions are ones in which the interviewer inquires about a candidate’s previous successes. These questions are designed to assist the interviewer in determining how successful potential workers will be in the future. They are exam items that are provided as simulations or within virtual environments and are meant to assess a candidate’s ability to solve issues in real-world scenarios.
What Is PBQ Purpose?
In summary, the PBQ is meant to ensure that you understand what you’re saying. You may be able to describe and answer questions concerning DHCP, but can you identify a DHCP packet on your network and which type it is? Can you exclude addresses from a DHCP pool on a server?
We won’t know how many points PBQ questions are worth, but it’s reasonable to assume that if you get them incorrect, you won’t pass the exam. That’s $400 down the pan for most CompTIA examinations.
What To Expect With CompTIA Performance-Based Questions
Performance-based questions on CompTIA examinations allow IT professionals to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities in a hands-on simulation rather of relying solely on multiple-choice questions to assess knowledge and skills. Candidates must utilize their hands-on experience more completely while answering performance-based questions.
Different questions kinds within the examinations are constructed and designed based on common work roles connected to the certification’s target audience. For example, occupations linked to CompTIA Security+ for cybersecurity experts will differ from those related to CompTIA A+ for assistance desk employees. As a result, the test goals and material for each of these examinations will change. IT professionals benefit from the availability of study tools such as study guides, practice exams, sample questions, and CompTIA CertMaster solutions that provide examples of performance-based questions.
How CompTIA Performance-Based Questions Are Scored?
The overall certification test includes performance-based questions. These sorts of questions are more hands-on than typical multiple-choice questions. CompTIA’s testing vendor PearsonVUE scores both sorts of questions on the CompTIA certification tests in real time for in-person and online testing. To maintain the integrity of these high-stakes, ANAB-accredited certification tests, the score between each question is kept secret.
Aside from testing and scoring, candidates frequently inquire whether performance-based questions get partial credit.
CompTIA Performance Based Question Models
Performance-based questions are presented as simulations or within a virtual environment since they measure your ability to tackle real-world issues.
The two question types available, as well as an explanation of how they can be scored during the test, are listed below:
- Simulation questions: Simulation exam questions give a technological environment, such as a firewall, network diagram, or operating system. The functionality is restricted, with the goal of allowing many viable replies or routes to finish the experiment.
- Virtual testing environments make use of virtual machines or systems that run certain operating systems and software. Because these environments offer a comprehensive feature set, all types of exact and incorrect actions or courses may be accomplished.
Each certification test will include a different mix of these two sorts of performance-based questions. This may be applied to determining whether or not an exam requires simulations or virtual worlds.
CompTIA certifications with simulation PBQs:
- A+
- Network+
- Security+
- CySA+
- PenTest+
- Linux+
- Server+
- Cloud+
CompTIA certifications with both virtual and simulation PBQs:
- CASP+
CompTIA certification without PBQs:
- ITF+
- Cloud Essentials+
- Project+
- CTT+
For PBQs, CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioners (CASP+) use simulations and virtual environments.
To match the demands of today’s IT settings, the tests are reevaluated every three years. As a result, the number of PBQs is expected to grow over time. You may obtain a better notion of the sort of performance-based questions by reviewing exam objectives and a practice test simulation.
Performance-Based Testing And The Command Prompt
For a performance-based inquiry, the command prompt is quite simple to imitate. Also, because the command prompt is so uniform across operating systems, it’s easy to design vendor-neutral queries. Because of this, make sure you have a strong knowledge of any command prompt objectives for the test you plan on taking.
Performance-Based Testing In The A+ Exam
The new A+ exam (220-1101 and 220-1102), which will be available in April 2022, will incorporate PBQs. On the A+ exams, you can expect performance-based questions that use the command prompt or Control Panel applets, as well as simulations that cover many of the scenarios listed in the test objectives, such as fixing connectivity issues for users, configuring accessories and ports of mobile devices, and the steps required to install a secure, wired/wireless small office/home office (SOHO) network.
Check out the “CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Eleventh Edition,” which includes a number of exercises that are expressly prepared with these performance-based questions. While reading the book, go through the exercises, and you’ll be better prepared to answer these questions accurately.
Getting as much hands-on experience as possible is another approach to guarantee you are prepared for these questions. Some of this is available in A+ Boot Camp-style courses offered by trustworthy suppliers.
Performance-Based Testing In The CASP+ Exam
The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP) exam was the first to include a combination of multiple-choice and performance-based questions, as well as virtual and simulation PBQs for the practical hands-on operation of specific tasks. As soon as the applicant enters the virtual environment, he or she must answer virtual PBQs before proceeding with the rest of the test.
In addition, unlike other certification tests (such as A+, Network+, and Security+, which have been altered and converted to a standardized scale), CASP+ only provides testers with a pass/fail score rather than a numerical score. After finishing the exam, the candidate receives no results other than a pass or fail message. If they pass the exam, CompTIA will send them a congratulations email.
Performance-Based Testing In The Network+ Exam
CompTIA’s latest Network+ exam (N10-008), which was released on September 15, 2021, includes simulation PBQs. Expect queries requiring a command prompt once more. As an example, suppose you were assigned the responsibility of deleting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease for a client and then getting a new lease. You’ll get a command prompt when you start the simulation. You must then input the following two commands:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
The first command terminates the existing DHCP lease, while the second request a new lease.
You may practice with simulated PBQs online, or you can learn how to answer this sort of simulation PBQ by visiting the CompTIA Sample Performance Based Question Answer Key.
If you’re presently studying for this exam, consider taking a hands-on course or attending a Network+ Boot Camp to properly prepare.
Performance-Based Testing In The Security+ Exam
SY0-601, the most recent edition of Security+, was released on November 12, 2020, and includes of performance-based testing questions. Again, you may encounter instances using the command prompt. For example, you may be prompted to compute the hash of a file, and when you click the button, the simulated environment will take you to a command prompt simulation. You can view the files in the directory and maybe the md5sum or sha1sum executable file if you type dir and press Enter.
To compute a hash, you’ll need to be familiar with these applications. For example, the following program will compute the Message Digest 5 (MD5) hash of a file named study.txt:
md5sum study.txt
The software then produces the following output:
eb574b236133e60c989c6f472f07827b *study.txt
The hash of the file is the first string of hexadecimal characters, and the file name (study.txt) comes after the star (*).
During a forensic investigation, you may also be requested to identify and mitigate an ongoing attack as well as collect evidence of an assault.
How To Prepare For CompTIA Performance Based Questions?
As this phase of the examination may become difficult, there are strategies to prepare for certification tests using performance-based questions. Look for CompTIA’s book samples, test objectives, and practice questions to get a sense of the kind of questions you could face. To be exam ready, look for resources in the CompTIA Learning Center (eBooks, training videos, and an online assessment for exam readiness) and CertMaster Learn Training Media (a comprehensive learning tool that includes interactive learning with flashcards and performance-based questions) before registering and scheduling for your desired test (online or in-person at authorized Pearson VUE testing centers).
You may also use one of the various solutions offered by respected providers. CompTIA has requested that all training partners incorporate PBQs into their offerings.
Tips For Completing PBQs On Your Exam
Determine the kind of PBQ. Virtual PBQs do not cover the complete testing area and do not have a reset button, whereas simulation PBQs do.
You may skip simulated PBQs and come back to them later, but not virtual PBQs! If you are unsure about answering a simulated PBQ, skip to the next question. To continue with the exam, click the Next button. Your work on the PBQ simulation will be preserved while you work and when you go to another item.
When you come upon a virtual PBQ, you must finish it right away. Prior to entering the virtual world, a caution screen informs you that you cannot skip the item and later return to it. When this occurs, the best plan is to finish the virtual PBQ to the best of your abilities before moving on to the rest of the test.
There may be several methods to answer a PBQ question or challenge. Scoring takes into account many ways.
Virtual PBQs, like simulation PBQs, may be granted partial credit.
FAQs
How many CompTIA performance-based questions are there?
The number of CompTIA performance-based questions (PBQs) can vary depending on the specific exam you are taking. However, on average, most CompTIA exams have between 3-5 PBQs. These types of questions are designed to test your practical knowledge and skills by presenting you with real-world scenarios that you may encounter in a professional setting. They typically require you to perform a task or solve a problem using a simulated environment or tool. PBQs can be an important part of the exam as they allow you to demonstrate your abilities beyond just answering multiple-choice questions.
Do I Get Partial Credit?
When taking these performance-based problems, a popular query is if students earn partial credit if they properly complete part of the issue but not all of it. According to CompTIA, there may be questions for which partial credit is given in both the simulated and virtual environments. However, because scoring is secret, no information about which questions grant partial credit may be supplied.
How are CompTIA PBQs different from traditional multiple-choice questions?
Unlike traditional multiple-choice questions, PBQs require candidates to perform tasks using simulated environments or real equipment. PBQs are designed to assess a candidate’s ability to apply knowledge and skills to practical scenarios, whereas traditional multiple-choice questions focus on theoretical knowledge.
What types of tasks can be included in CompTIA PBQs?
PBQs can include a wide range of tasks, such as configuring a network device, troubleshooting an issue, or securing a system. The tasks are designed to simulate real-world scenarios and require candidates to apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems.
Final Words
In conclusion, CompTIA performance based questions (PBQs) are an important component of many CompTIA certification exams. These questions assess your ability to apply your knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios that you may encounter in your professional career. While the number of PBQs can vary from exam to exam, they typically make up a significant portion of the overall exam score. To prepare for PBQs, it’s important to practice using simulated environments and tools and to study and understand the underlying concepts and principles. By doing so, you can increase your chances of success on the exam and demonstrate your practical abilities to potential employers.
